Beyond Basic Ordering: A Comprehensive Feature List for Elevating Your Restaurant’s Online and Mobile Capabilities

In today’s fast-paced digital world, having a robust online and mobile ordering system is critical for the success of any restaurant operation. Whether you’re a new restaurant operator or looking to improve your existing capabilities, selecting the right online and mobile ordering solutions can be a daunting task. To help simplify this process, we have created a comprehensive feature list that covers everything you need to know to optimise your restaurant’s online and mobile ordering capabilities.

Our feature list is organised into several sections, including customisation, multi-location support, ordering, promotion and marketing, events and catering, analytics and reporting, integration, and so much more. Each section includes a detailed description of the features and capabilities that are essential to consider when assessing your restaurant’s online and mobile ordering capabilities. By using this feature list to evaluate your restaurant’s needs, you can make informed decisions and select the right online and mobile ordering solutions, such as QikServe and KateMedia, that will help you provide an exceptional customer experience and drive revenue growth.

Customisation

Customisable branding and white-labeling options:

You may want to fully customise branding and design to ensure consistency with your brand image.

• Customisable logos and themes: to customise the app’s logo and theme to match your branding.
• Branded email and SMS notifications:  to customise the email and SMS notifications that customers receive with your branding, including logos, colours, and messaging.
• Custom domain and URL: to use a custom domain and URL for the online ordering platform, allowing you to maintain a consistent branding experience for their customers.

Customisable user interface:

You may want to have control over the user interface, including menu layouts, promotional banners, and other design elements.

• Widget customisation: to choose and customise specific app widgets, such as the navigation menu, product categories, and checkout process.
• Language customisation: to customise the language used, including menu items, notifications, and other content, to better serve customers who speak different languages or to cater to international markets.

Customisable notifications and alerts:

You may want to tailor your notifications and alerts to better suit your specific needs and improve communication with your customers.

• Order status updates: to send real-time notifications to customers about the status of their order, such as when it’s being prepared or out for delivery.
• Marketing and promotional alerts: to send notifications to customers about special offers, discounts, and promotions.
• Customer feedback alerts: to send notifications to your staff about customer feedback, ratings, and reviews. This can help you identify areas for improvement and respond to concerns in a timely manner.

Customisable user roles and permissions:

You may want to have control over user roles and permissions to ensure that only authorised individuals have access to certain functions and information.

• Role-based access control: to define different levels of access for your staff and control what each user can view and modify within the app.
• Customisable user groups: to group users based on their roles and permissions, such as managers, servers, and chefs, and assign specific tasks and responsibilities to each group.
• Permission templates: to create pre-defined templates for user roles and permissions, making it easy to add new users and assign them appropriate access levels with a few clicks.

Customisable templates for menus, promotions, and other content within the app:

You may want to create custom templates for different types of menus, promotions, and other content within the app to streamline the process of updating and managing content.

• Menu builder: to create and customise your menus, incl categories, items, and pricing. Support different types of menus, such as breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and allow for easy modifications.
• Promotion builder: to create and manage promotions and discounts, such as happy hour specials, loyalty programs, and coupon codes. Customisation of the promotion terms, such as the discount amount, the duration, and the eligibility criteria.
• Content management system: a centralised platform for managing all the content within the app, such as images, descriptions, and branding elements. Customisable templates for different types of content, such as banners, buttons, and icons, and allow for easy editing and publishing.

Multi-location Support

Ability to manage multiple locations from a single platform:

You may want to be able to manage all your locations from one central platform to streamline operations and manage all orders in one place.

• Centralised management: to manage all your locations from a single dashboard. This includes managing orders, menus, promotions, and other content. With centralised management, you can ensure that all your locations are following the same branding guidelines and offering a consistent customer experience.
• Location-specific menus and pricing: The ability to set up different menus and pricing structures for each location will be important if you have multiple outlets in different locations.
• Location-based menu display: to display a customised menu for each of your locations based on the specific products and services offered at that location. Customers can easily navigate the menu options and place their orders accordingly.
• Location-based pricing: to set different prices for your products and services at each location. Customers can view the pricing of the products and services based on your selected location, ensuring they receive the correct pricing information and preventing any confusion.
• Location-based promotions and discounts: to offer location-specific promotions and discounts to customers based on their selected location. The promotions and discounts can be customised for each location and can be targeted to specific customer segments to increase the effectiveness of the campaign.

Reporting and analytics across locations:

The ability to track sales, customer behaviour, and other metrics across all locations is important to enable you to make informed decisions and adjust your operations as needed.

• Multi-location reporting: to view all your locations’ data in a single dashboard, making it easier to compare and analyse data across multiple locations. This dashboard can include metrics such as sales, order volume, and customer data.
• Customisable reports: to provide insights into specific aspects of the business, such as menu performance, customer demographics, and order volume. Customise these reports to show data for specific locations or time periods, providing a more targeted view of your business.
• Real-time analytics: to track key metrics in real-time, such as sales and order volume, across all your locations. This data can be used to make immediate decisions about staffing, inventory, and promotions, ensuring that each location is running at maximum efficiency.

Integration with third-party delivery services:

Integration with popular delivery services is important if you want to offer delivery services.

• API Integration: API integration with third-party delivery services, such as Deliveroo, Uber Eats, Just Eat Takeaway.com and/or middleware options such as Deliverect , allowing for seamless order delivery and tracking. This feature enables customers to place an order through the app, and the order will be automatically sent to the delivery service for fulfillment.
• Delivery Tracking: to track orders from the moment they leave the restaurant to the time they arrive at their doorstep. This feature provides transparency and helps build trust with the customers.
• Order Consolidation: to manage orders from multiple delivery services in a single interface. This feature helps to streamline operations, reduce errors, and ensure timely delivery.

Multiple languages:

The ability to support multiple languages is important if you operate in multilingual areas or want to cater to customers who speak different languages.

• Language settings: allow the user to switch between different languages. Support all the necessary languages that are relevant to the target audience.
• Menu translation: to translate the menu items and descriptions into different languages. This is particularly important if you have a diverse customer base.
• Order confirmation and receipt translation: to provide order confirmations and receipts in different languages. This ensures that the customer can understand the details of their order and helps to create a better overall experience for the user.

Ordering

Menu Management:

The ability to manage your menus easily and update them in real-time to reflect changes in inventory, pricing, and availability.

• Customisable Menus: to easily update and customise your menus based on availability, pricing, and other factors. Menu management tools that allow you to create and modify menus quickly and easily.
• Inventory Management: Inventory management is a critical component of menu management. It allows you to track ingredient availability, set reorder thresholds, and avoid out-of-stock items. Online and mobile ordering apps can integrate with Syrve Restaurant Control Solution to ensure menu items are only displayed when ingredients are available.
• Nutritional Information: Many customers today are health-conscious and want to know the nutritional content of the food they order. Display nutritional information for each menu item, including calorie count, macronutrient breakdown, and allergen information. This information can help customers make informed decisions about their orders and can also improve customer loyalty by demonstrating a commitment to transparency and health.

Order Customisation:

Customers today demand more customisation options, and you need to be able to offer these options in your online and mobile ordering apps. This could include the ability to add special instructions or make substitutions to menu items.

• Customisable modifiers: to modify menu items to your liking, such as adding or removing ingredients or selecting different preparation methods. This feature ensures that customers can order dishes tailored to your preferences, increasing satisfaction and repeat business.
• Special requests: to include special requests or instructions with your orders, such as asking for a dish to be prepared without certain ingredients or requesting a specific delivery time. This helps ensure that customers can order exactly what they want, even if it’s not listed on the menu.
• Dietary restrictions and allergen filters: to filter menu items based on specific needs. This can increase customer loyalty and satisfaction by providing a more personalised ordering experience.

Payment Processing:

Online and mobile ordering apps must have a secure and easy-to-use payment processing system that supports a range of payment methods, including credit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Wallet.

• Multiple payment options: to accept various payment methods, such as credit/debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Wallet, to provide customers with a seamless checkout experience.
• Secure payment processing: to protect customer data. Secure payment processing by using encryption and tokenisation technology to protect sensitive information like credit card details.
• Automatic payment reconciliation: Automatic payment reconciliation features that match the payment transactions with the order details, simplifying accounting and reducing errors. This feature can help you track revenue and expenses more efficiently.

Order Tracking:

Customers want to know when their orders are ready and when they will be delivered or ready for pickup. The app should offer real-time order tracking and notifications for this purpose.

• Real-time order status updates: to track the progress of your orders in real-time, from the moment the order is placed to the moment it is delivered or picked up. Customers can receive notifications at every stage of the order process, such as when the order is confirmed, when it is being prepared, and when it is out for delivery.
• Estimated delivery or pick-up time: This feature provides customers with an estimated time of delivery or pick-up based on your current workload and the distance from the customer’s location. Customers can use this information to plan their schedule accordingly and be prepared to receive their orders on time.
• Delivery driver tracking: For delivery orders, this feature allows customers to track the location of the delivery driver in real-time using GPS technology. Customers can see the driver’s current location on a map and receive updates on their estimated time of arrival. This feature helps customers stay informed and eliminates the need for them to call the restaurant for updates.

Integration with Syrve Restaurant Control Solution:

Seamless integration with Syrve Restaurant Control Solution is critical to ensure that online and mobile orders are processed quickly and accurately.

• Real-time order syncing: to easily manage and process orders without any discrepancies or delays, and ensures accurate tracking of inventory and sales data.
• Menu item availability: to update the availability of menu items in real-time, based on factors like inventory levels, time of day, and location. This ensures that customers only see menu items that are currently available for order, and helps to reduce the number of order cancellations due to out-of-stock items.
• Automatic pricing updates: automatically update pricing and discount information for menu items, promotions, and special offers. This ensures that customers receive accurate pricing information, and helps eliminate errors or inconsistencies between the systems.

Customer Relationship Management:

The app should include tools for managing customer relationships, including the ability to view customer order history, personalise promotions, and send targeted marketing messages.

• Customer data collection: to collect customer data such as email addresses, phone numbers, and order history. This information can be used to provide personalised promotions, discounts, and loyalty rewards.
• Communication tools: tools such as email and SMS messaging, push notifications, and chatbots to keep customers informed about promotions, deals, and other news related to the restaurant.
• Feedback management: a mechanism for customers to provide feedback and suggestions about their experience with the restaurant. This feedback can be used to improve the ordering process, menu items, and overall customer service

Delivery Management:

If you offer delivery, the app should include features for managing delivery orders, including the ability to track drivers, optimise delivery routes, and communicate with customers about delivery times.

• Delivery tracking: allows customers to track the status of their delivery in real-time, including the driver’s location and estimated time of arrival. Delivery tracking helps customers plan their time and provides them with peace of mind.
• Delivery zone management: allows you to define your delivery areas and set minimum order amounts for each zone. It helps to ensure that only orders within your restaurant’s delivery range are accepted, and that the restaurant is compensated for the cost of delivering orders.
• Integration with third-party delivery services: to seamlessly integrate your online ordering systems with third-party delivery services to reach a wider customer base.

Pickup Management:

If you offer pickup orders, the app should include features for managing pickup orders, including the ability to track orders and alert customers when their orders are ready for pickup.

• Real-Time Order Status Updates: let customers know when their order is being prepared, when it’s ready, and when it’s been picked up.
• Curbside Pickup: allows customers to notify your restaurant when they arrive and wait in their car for their order. Send a notification when their order is ready and bring the order directly to their car.
• Order Management Dashboard: A centralised dashboard lets you manage all your pickup orders in one place. You can view new orders as they come in, update order status, and mark orders as complete when they’ve been picked up. This helps you stay organised and ensures a smooth pickup experience.

Promotion and Marketing:

Customisable promotions:

The ability to create and customise promotions and discounts, such as buy one get one free, percentage discounts, and free items.

• Secure payment processing: to ensure that their customers’ payment details are kept safe and secure. Secure payment gateways that comply with relevant security standards such as PCI DSS.
• Multiple payment options: allow customers to pay for their orders in various ways, such as credit or debit cards, mobile payments, or digital wallets. A range of payment options to accommodate preferences.
• Easy payment reconciliation: an easy-to-use interface for reconciling payments, as well as the ability to export payment data to popular accounting software.

Targeted Marketing

The ability to target marketing efforts to specific customers or groups based on demographics, past orders, and order history.

• Customer segmentation: to segment your customers based on various factors such as order history, location, and demographics. This enables targeted marketing campaigns based on the preferences of each segment.
• Personalised promotions: to create personalised promotions and offers for each customer segment. This could include discounts, free items, or loyalty rewards, among others.
• Marketing automation: to help send targeted marketing messages at the right time. This could include email campaigns, push notifications, and SMS alerts, among others.

Loyalty Programs:

To incentivise repeat orders, you need to offer loyalty programs and reward points that can be redeemed for discounts or other rewards.

• Loyalty Points: allow customers to earn points with each purchase they make, which can later be redeemed for rewards or discounts. Online and mobile ordering apps can integrate loyalty points into their platform, allowing customers to earn and track their points through the app.
• Reward Tracking: Loyalty programs typically include rewards that customers can earn after accumulating a certain number of points or making a certain number of purchases. Online and mobile ordering apps can include a reward tracking feature that allows customers to see how close they are to earning their next reward.
• Personalised Promotions: to retain customers by offering personalised promotions and discounts. Online and mobile ordering apps can leverage customer data and purchase history to create personalised promotions for loyal customers, increasing customer retention and satisfaction.

Social Media Integration

The ability to integrate the app with social media platforms to promote your restaurant and engage with customers.

• Social Sharing: to easily share your orders, deals, and promotions on your social media accounts, helping to spread the word and increase brand awareness.
• Social Media Login: enables customers to use their social media accounts to log in to the ordering app, eliminating the need to create a separate account and making the ordering process more convenient.
• Social Media Advertising: to create targeted advertising campaigns on social media platforms, based on customer data collected through the ordering app, to promote your products to a wider audience.

Events & Catering:

Customisation and Management Options:

Ability to easily customise menu items and pricing and manage the ordering and delivery process based on the specific needs of the event.

• Customisable menus: to create customised menus for events and catering orders. Allows customers to choose specific items they want in their orders and add or remove certain ingredients based on their preferences.
• Order management dashboard: to view all incoming orders, manage order queues, and assign delivery drivers or preparation staff to specific orders. This helps you to efficiently manage your order process and ensures that all orders are fulfilled in a timely manner.
• Automated notifications: allowing customers to receive updates on their orders via email, SMS, or push notifications. Notifications can include order confirmations, order updates, delivery tracking information, and even special promotions or discounts. This keeps customers informed and engaged throughout the entire ordering process.

Analytics and Reporting

Sales & Revenue Data:

See detailed reports on your sales and revenue, including data on order volume, average order value, and revenue by day, week, and month. This information can help them make informed decisions about your menu offerings and promotions.

• Sales dashboards: show key metrics such as total sales, number of orders, average order value, etc. to keep track of your sales performance and make informed business decisions.
• Sales reports: custom sales reports to understand sales trends and patterns, based on different time periods, menu items, locations, etc. Identify your best-selling items and optimise your menu offerings.
• Integration with accounting software: to simplify financial reporting and help you to manage your finances better. Automatically import sales data into your accounting software, eliminating the need for manual data entry and reducing the risk of errors.

Customer Data

Track customer behaviour, such as how often they order, what they order, and how much they spend. This data can help you identify your most loyal customers and create targeted marketing campaigns to incentivise repeat business.

• Customer profiling: to gather data on their customers such as their purchase history, preferences, and demographics. Understand your customers better and personalise your marketing efforts accordingly.
• Sales by customer: to track individual customer spending and order patterns. Identify your most valuable customers, create targeted promotions and loyalty programs, and optimise your menu offerings.
• Feedback and review analysis: to analyse customer feedback and reviews on your app, website, and social media channels. Insights into customer satisfaction levels, areas of improvement, and helps you to make data-driven decisions to enhance customer experience.

Operational Data

Track operational metrics, such as order fulfilment time, kitchen efficiency, and delivery performance. This information can help you identify areas for improvement and optimise your operations to better meet customer needs.

• Order fulfilment time analysis: to track the average time it takes for an order to be fulfilled, from the time the order is received to the time it is picked up or delivered. This information helps you identify bottlenecks in your operations and optimise processes to reduce wait times.
• Inventory management: to track the availability of ingredients and menu items in real-time. This data can be used to optimise supply chain management, reduce waste, and improve efficiency in operations.
• Staff performance analysis: data on the performance of individual staff members, such as the number of orders processed, the average order value, and the time it takes to fulfill an order. Identify high-performing staff members and areas where additional training or resources may be needed.

Integration

POS Integration:

The ability to integrate with your Syrve point-of-sale system to streamline the order and payment process, eliminate manual data entry, and reduce errors.

• Seamless order syncing: to seamlessly integrate with your Syrve POS system. Ensure all orders are automatically synced in real-time, and your staff can manage the orders efficiently.
• Menu item mapping: to map the items in your menu to the corresponding items in the Syrve POS system. Ensure staff can manage the orders accurately, and there is no confusion or errors in the orders.
• Order status updates: to provide real-time updates on the order status to both staff and customers. Ensure staff can manage the orders efficiently, and the customers can track their orders accurately.

Inventory Management Integration:

The ability to integrate with your Syrve inventory management to track ingredient levels and prevent stockouts, reduce food waste, and optimise purchasing decisions.

• Real-time inventory tracking: to track inventory levels in real-time and automatically update them as orders are placed. This ensures that customers are not able to order items that are out of stock and helps you manage your inventory more efficiently.
• Automatic inventory updates: to automatically update inventory levels as new orders are received and items are restocked. This reduces the amount of manual data entry required and helps ensure that inventory levels are always up to date.
• Predictive inventory management: to predict when inventory levels will be low based on historical sales data and other factors. This helps you anticipate inventory needs and prevent stockouts, which can lead to lost sales and dissatisfied customers.

Loyalty Integration:

The ability to integrate with your loyalty management system such as Como®LoyaltyPlant to track reward programs.

• Seamless integration with your existing loyalty programs: to ensure that the online and mobile ordering apps seamlessly integrate with your existing loyalty programs so that customers can continue to earn and redeem rewards.
• Customisable loyalty programs: to create your own customisable loyalty programs that can be integrated into the online and mobile ordering apps. This could include offering different rewards for different tiers of customers or for specific menu items.
• Tracking and analytics: to track the performance of your loyalty programs and measure your impact on revenue and customer retention. Detailed analytics to help you make data-driven decisions.

CRM Integration:

The ability to integrate with your CRM to track customer data and manage marketing campaigns.

• Customer data collection: to collect customer data, including contact information and order history. This data can help you understand your customers’ preferences and behaviour, and tailor your marketing and promotions accordingly.
• Automated marketing: This might include email or SMS campaigns triggered by specific customer actions, such as placing an order or referring a friend.
• Loyalty program integration: allowing you to track and reward customer loyalty across both online and offline channels. This can help to incentivise repeat business and drive customer engagement.

In today’s fast-paced world, having robust online and mobile ordering capabilities is crucial for any restaurant. Whether you’re a new operator looking to establish your online presence or an established restaurant seeking to enhance your capabilities, this comprehensive feature list can help you identify the features you need to take your restaurant to the next level. By implementing these advanced ordering features, you can streamline operations, increase efficiency, and provide a better dining experience for your customers. We hope this feature list serves as a valuable resource for your restaurant’s growth and success.